Clinton Supporters Drinking the Obama Kool-Aid?

Are top Hillary Clinton supporters finally drinking the Obama Kool-Aid?

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (AP)

At least one of them is. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Clinton’s most diehard supporters during the primary season introduced Sen. Barack Obama at a Philadelphia fundraiser on Friday night. Rendell told the crowd that some Obama supporters brought him a big carton of Kool-Aid and told him to “drink up” when Obama became the nominee.

“I gave Sen. Clinton $1,500 in the primary so I thought just for old-time sake I’d give Sen. Obama $1,499,” Rendell said, sparking scattered boos from the crowd. The outspoken governor calmed them by saying “don’t worry, that was before I drank the Kool-Aid.” He gave the Obama campaign a check for $2,300.

“We’re going to make sure this doesn’t bounce,” Obama said as he took the podium.

Clinton supporter and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter also stood on the stage during the fundraiser, along with long-time Obama backer Sen. Bob Casey. Ever since Obama became the Democratic nominee earlier this month, his campaign and the Party have gone through the delicate task of wooing devout Clinton supporters.

Earlier Friday Obama held an event with senior citizens in Columbus with Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland who campaigned vigorously for Clinton, helping her win the state in March by 10 percentage points.

Obama gave a special thank you to Casey at the Philly fundraiser and said he was “one of the finest men in politics” who “stood with me when it was really a tough time to stand with me.”

He then said it was a “relief” to have Gov. Rendell (“a man who has no shortage for words”) on his side. “How many cable shows can you be on at one time?” Obama asked Rendell, adding that he is “one of the finest governors in the country.”

(Rendell made an endless loop on the nightly news making his case for the former first lady.)

Obama, aware that he was flanked by some of Clinton’s most diehard political supporters, praised his former rival. He said that when he met with Clinton last week he said to her: “You’re the only one who knows what I’ve gone through and I’m the only one who knows what you’ve gone through.”

When asked how he feels about how it switching allegiances to Obama, Rendell said “he’s a good man.” The governor said he spoke to Clinton on Thursday and Saturday after her concession speech. “She was in good spirits,” he said.

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